Hollywood’s bad-boy star may have made headlines declaring himself a tiger-blood drinking warlock, but Llangollen’s Cerwyn Jones is the real deal.

The 52-year-old father-of- three, who carries a five-inch ceremonial knife for moonlight rituals, this week appeared in a North Wales court because his blade was seen as an offensive weapon.

Sympathetic magistrates accepted he was a genuine follower of the religion of Wicca – or white witchcraft – and agreed to lift the nighttime curfew imposed as a punishment whenever there is a full moon.

Jones told Wales on Sunday he discovered his faith during four years living in a tent at the stunning Horseshoe Pass near his home in Llangollen.

Speaking at his house surrounded by his neo-pagan imagery, including a pentacle, his holly wood staff, a carving of the lord of the woods and dressed in his pilgrim’s garb, he said the fundamental basis of his belief was to harm no-one, and that he spent his time peering into other people’s dreams.

“I’ve been studying dreams for 12 years,” he said.

“Sometimes I will see something and the next thing I will see it in real life.

“I might see like a vision.

“I saw a cage door and a canary flying out of it and that is all I saw in that dream.

“The next day a woman I know told me her canary had escaped from the cage.

“The woman was someone I was working with.

“She does black magic sorcery and sees the future.”

Followers of Wicca maintain the whole cosmos is alive, meaning the waxing (growing), waning and full moon are extremely important in their religion.

When the moon is full, magic ceremonies are performed and the gods and goddesses of Wicca honoured.

Jones, who had to forfeit his ceremonial knife at Dolgellau Magistrates’ Court, said: “Out there it’s a magical place.

“I used to be a Christian for 40 years, but when I moved to the tent my gods changed.

“Before it was Jesus on the cross, but these (the triple Goddesses) were around 500 years before Christ.

“I believe in the goddesses. The maiden Diana represents new beginnings, spring and love, and mother represents protection and nature.”

Jones turned to Wicca after coming out of prison in 2005 following a six-year jail term imposed in January 2003 for making threats to kill and firearms offences.

He was arrested last year for possession of an offensive weapon when the police found him in a Bala pub with the five-inch knife he uses in his moonlit casting rituals. He later pleaded guilty to the offence.

Dolgellau magistrates tagged him – ordering him to stay indoors for four months between 7pm and 7am, except when there is a full moon.